Flush valve



Patented Der. 3Q, T324.,

NETE@ STATES earner oneroso EIDWARD PATRICK BURNS, 0F NEW BRITAN, CONNECTCUT, ASSIGNGB), BY MESNE ASSGNMENTS, T0 THE BEATON @L CADWELL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 03F NEW BRTAIN, CONNECTECUT, A. CURPORATTON.

FLUSH VALVE.

Application led October 29, 1921. Serial No. 511,301.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that EDWARD PATRICK. BURNS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Tmprovements in Flush Valves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in flush valves, for use with water-closets, of the form generally corresponding to that of v the flush valve shown and described in my application tiled April 12, 1921, Serial No. 460,794, and the object of my improvement is simplicity and economy in construction and convenience and eiiiciency in use.

Tn the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved flush valve.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a plan view with the casing` cover removed.

Figure @is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the entire structure on the line H of Fig'. 3.

Figure 5 is a plan View of the main valve structure.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the auxiliary valve structure, the stem that it is mounted on, and the hood or watershed that is carried by said stem, the operating handle being indicated by broken lines.

My improved Hush valve comprises a generally pear-shaped casing structure having the water inlet 10 at one side, having at the lower end a downwardly extending nipple 11 that is exteriorly screw-threaded for connecting with the outlet pipe 12, and being provided at the upper end with the knoblike handle' 13 that is depressed to operate the valve, automa-tic means involving the use of a spring 14 serving to restore said handle 13 to the normal, elevated position.

Structurally said casing structure comprises for the exterior a casing cover part 15 at the upper end, a base part 16 at the lower end, and `(the casing body part"17 intermediate said first mentioned parts, cooperating screw-threaded portions 18 of suitable form serving as the means of interconnecting said parts. y

The inlet connection 10y is made integral with the casing body part 17 and the nipple 11 for connecting with the outlet pipe 12 is made integral with the basel part 16.

As a part of the fixed casing structure there is provided in the interior a part that is designatedas the water chamber to 19ky that is positioned on the upper si'de oi the body part 17 and is secured thereto by means of a flange-like annular borderportion 2O through the medium of the screws 21. Said annular border port-ion 20 serves as a seat, is opposed to a similar seat 22 on the body part 17, and interposed between said seats 20 and 22 is the edge portion or a circular diaphragm 23, which may be made of any suitable material, such as metal or rubber.,

The diaphragm 23 bridges generally the upper pprtion of the body part 17 and serves as the top wall of the main valve chamber 24, the latter being connected with` the inlet 10. y

The main valve 25 is ixedly connected with the middle portion of the diaphragm 23, on the lower face thereof, and is raised and lowered relatively to the valve seat 26 to correspond to the movements of said diaphragm.

The casing body part 17 extends generally across the lower side of the valve chamber 24: so as to provide the fixed, lower wall 27 therefor, which wall 27- is of annular form,

extending around the main valve seat 26.

Extending downwardly from the valve seat-26 and supported by said annular wall 27, is the tubular structure 28 that encloses the main discharge passage 29.

Said' tubular structure 28, it will be noted, extends through the nipple 11 and terminates appreciably below the lower end thereof; is separated from the opposed border wall of said nipple 11 by an annular space 30; and is generally in the form of a nozzle or jet,

after the manner of an injector, with t el lower end portion 31 of the discharge pasp lower end so as to being intermediate said annular wall 27 and the casing base part 16. l

0n the upper side of the diaphragm 23 and between the same and the general structure vof the Water chamber top 19 is the water chamber 34.

Said water chamber top 19 comprises just inside the border and seat portion 20 a curved, dome-shaped portion 35 that extends generally inwardly andv upwardly from said seat portion 20 and is surmounted by the axially positioned tubular structure 36,

rllhe tubular structure 36 comprises a lower portion 37 of relatively large diameter, an inwardly directed end wall` 38- at the upper vend of said lower portion 37, and an upper portion 39 of appreciably smaller diameter extending upwardly from said end wall 38.

The lower portion 37 is of uinform diameter and operates as a cylinder for the piston-like stem 40 `of the main`.valve 25, which stem is iuted or corrugated so as to lp-rovide lonlgitudinal passages 41 for water. he upper and major portion of the upper portion 39 hasl a bore that is an o erative fit for the rod 42 that serves as the va ve stem for the auxiliary valve 43. The bore 44 at the lower end of said upper portion 39 is slightly enlarged, so as to provide clearance vfor the rod 42 for water and the side wall of said enlarged portion or bore 44 is provided with a, plurality of perforations 45 for the escape of water. 1

The piston-like stem 40 is provided with a laterally extending flange adjacent the provide a relatively large head 47 for be-ing seated on the diaphragm 23 and is extended downwardly axially in the form of a. threaded nipple '48 for receiving the nut 49, the mainvalve25 being interposed between said head 47 and 'nut 48.l

The main valve 25 may be provided with contacting washer 50 of yielding material` for cooperating with the valve seat 26.

The auxiliary valve 43 is .also lprovided with a contacting washer 51 of yielding material.

The upper end of the piston-like stem v40 is chambered, as shown^at 52, to house the lower end portion of the kauxiliary valve 43 when the main valve 25 and connected parts are in the extreme upper position.

The water chamber 34,i s connected a-t/all -times with the water supply by a restrictedI instance being provided by means of a small tube 53 that is housedin a suitable continuous perforation 54 in superimposed portions of the head 47, diaphragm 23, and main valve 25.

rlhe piston-like stem 40 has an axial bore 55 that is open at the upper end and serves as a spring chamber for housing the spring 14, which spring is of coil form.

rlhe upper and major portion of the spring 14 encloses a spring guide 56 that extends downwardly from the auxiliary valve 43 and that also serves as the means for holding said valve 43 on the rod or stem 42, the upper end portion 57 being longitudinally bored and screw-threaded to cooperate with the 'threaded lower end portion 58 of said rod or stem `42. A diminutive shoulder 59 on said rod 42 limits the upward movement of the valve 43 along said rod 42.

The upper end 60 of the rod 42 is screwthreaded a-nd certain parts are mounted thereon, comprising the handle 13 that is exposed and accessible on the outside of the casing cover part 15 and a special device 61 designated as a Water-shed device or umbrella that is housed within said cover part.

The casing cover part 15 is surmounted by a boss 62 that is perforated to provide an operative iit for the cylindrical body part 63 of the handle 13. p

The perforation or bore 64, provided as mentioned, serve's as a guide for the handle 13 and the upper end portion 60 of the rod I Y 42 on which it is mounted, some portion of the body part 63 of said handle 13 being housed therein under normal conditions of l operation. A

The. fit, however, between the opposed parts of the handle 13 Vand the boss 62 is relatively loose, such as would permit of the escape of water under certain conditions of operation and in order to overcome this condition I provide the umbrella 61, mentioned above. Y

Said umbrella 61 is dome shaped or approximately conical, with a supporting nipple 65 at the upper end for engaging .with the rod 42, and extends downwardly below the perforations 45- thatserve as the means of escape of the Water from the water chamber 34, being made of sheet metal or any other suitable material. The casing cover part 15 is dome-shaped and provides an air chamber 66 immediately exterior to the water chamber 34 and which is Aoperative to receive the water that is ejected from said water chamber through the perforations 45.

One or more perfo-rations 67 may be provided in the side wall of the casing cover part 15 to ,admit air andmaintain atmospheric pressure in the interior.

ln order to drain water that may be admitted to the air chamber 66 one or more connecting passages 68 are provided leading to the drain chamber 33. As shown. said passages alternate with the holding screws 22 and are in the form of continuous openings that pass through the material of the dange 20 otthe water chambertop 19, the diaphragm 23, and the solid material 69 at the border of the casing body part 17.

ln use, the drainage of the air chamber 66 is accelerated by the aspirator e'ect produced by the discharge from the main discharge passage 29, which is relatively restricted, as described, and terminates slightly below the adjacent and concentric discharge outlet 30 for the drain chamber 33.

lin use, the main valve 25 and the auxiliary valve 43 are normally closed; water is admitted to the valve chamber 24 below the diaphragm 23 and exterior to the valve seat 26 and the discharge passage 29; the'water chamber 34 is filled with water, the water being retained therein by the auxiliary valve 43, which is held in the closed position; and the air chamber 66 is in the drained condition.

rllhe spring 14 tends to hold both valves in the closed position and the water pressure also cooperates to edect this result..

y To operate the device, the knob-handle 13 is depressed, so as to unseat the auxiliary valve in opposition to the spring 14, the operation of the handle being momentary only. 'lhus the water chamber 34 is relieved of the water pressure, the water pressure on the under side of the diaphragm lifts the latter and opens the from the water chamber 34 escaping through the perforations 45.

'lihe movement of the main valve 25 is also in opposition to the spring 14.

The release of the handle is followed by the seating of the 4auxiliary valve 4 3, whic interrupts the further escape ot water from the water chamber 34. rlhis condition is followed by the re-iilling of the water chamber from the water supply through the medium. of the restricted passage provided by the tube 53. 4

rlllhe dimensions of said tube 53 determine the rate of such re-lling.

As the re-lling described continues the main valve is being brought to the closing position by the downward movement of the diaphragm, the parts being constructed and arran edto edect such closing gradually, accor ing to redetermined conditions.

As shown, t e valve 25, designated as the main valve, is provided with an upwardly directed piston-like stem 40 and the latter is operatively housed in a cylinder structure 37 that is provided in the structure of the water chamber top 19, and, also, the stern 40 and the cylinder 37 are appreciably .clon-g gated so as ,to provide a proper guiding e-. feet for the main valve 25.

ln use, the diminutive chamber 52 in the upper end of the piston-like stem v40 and main valve, the water which is Vadapted to house the lower end portion ot the auxiliary valve 43, serves as a bumper for said auxiliary valve 43 or contacting member for actuating the same responsive to upward movement of the main valve 25 and its stem 40.

lit will be noted that the coil spring 14 is appreciably elongated. rlihis tively light and operates merely as a positioning spring for the valves, without forcibly seating the valves.

The seating of the auxiliary valve 43 is elected substantially instantaneously after the knob has been depressed', whether the hand is removed therefrom or not, such action following because of the relatively large area of the diaphragm primarily and because of the detail ofthe contacting of the stem 40 and the auxiliary valve 43, as described, the action being positive notwithstanding any pressure that may be applied to the knob 13 under normal conditions.

lit will also be noted that the spring 14 has the lower and major portion housed in the spring chamber 55 that is provided in the main valve stem 4() when in the expanded position and when in the compressed position it is fully housed therein, as in the latter position the auxiliary valve structure 43 serves as a closure for said spring chamber 55. also, the lower end portion of the auxiliary valve structure 43 is housed in the diminutive contacting chamber 52. rlihe auxiliary valve structure 43, as described, bridges the open end of the spring chamber 55 and extends outwardly laterally on all sides beyond the spring, having an annular face that is opposed to the upper end portion of the stem 40, the two opposed annular faces surrounding the spring.

l claim as my invention 1. ln a Hush valve, a casing having an inlet and an outlet, mechanismhoused within said casing comprising a main valve and apilot valve, Van annular seat forsaid pilot valve and a tubular structure extending upwardly from said seat, the lower portion of 'said tubular structure being chambered and .laterally perforated for the passage of water,y a stem for said pilot valve extending upwardly through said tubular structure,

said stem ittmg and substantially filling spring is relalll@ MBS

the bore of the portion of said tubular structure that is above said lowerportion and said tubular structure being a fixe part of the casing structure.

2. In a ilush valve as described in claim l, said casing having an opening above and in line with said tubular` structure, and a knob, slidable ini-said opening, mounted on said stein. '1 y 3. .ln a flush valve as described'in claim 1, said casing having an opening, .a knob mounted 'on said stem and slidable in said opening, and a watershed mounted on the portion of said stem intermediate said tubular structure and knob.

K 4. ln a flush valve as described in claim 1, a watershed mounted on said stem, and said watershed extending downwardly -below the said lower portion of the tubular structure.

v5. ln a ush valve having a pilot valve, a tubular structure having a laterally directed outlet passage for water, and a watershed extending outside said structure in the form of a pendant structure directly opposed to said outlet passage.

6. In a flush valve, a casing part having an 'open interior that is provided with anupwardly directed main valve seat, a diaphragm extended across said part and serving to support a main valve for cooperating with said seat, a second casing part positioned on the upper side of said first casing part, above said diaphragm, and `having a seat for a pilot valve, a pilot valve having a stem, a stem for said main valve on the upper side of said diaphragm, and said sec- ;ond casing part having guide means for each of said stems.` 7. A flush valve having an inner casing and an outer casing that have upper walls that are opposed and in spaced relation, the upper wall of said inner casing having a laterally directed pilot opening, a valve for said opening having a stem, and a wateri shedding devicel supported by said stem in pendant `position so as to overhang said opening.

8. A lush'valve casing structure comprising an interior casing composed of a lower lmain part and an upper part, said parts having ange-like border portions that are `opposed one to the other, a diaphragm interposed between said border portions, said lowermain part having a laterally disposed inlet and a downwardly directed outlet, a shell-like air chamber casing mounted upon the upper -side of said lower main part and provided at the upper end with an opening for a tripping device, and a drainage chamber structure secured tothe lower side of said lower main part and having a discharge opening concentric with said outlet.

9. A Hush valve having an inner casing that is provided with a downwardly directed outlet and an outer'casing that is provided with a downwardly directed outlet, the walls of said outlet being fixed and rigid and arranged concentric one with the other.

10. In a flush valve, a casing comprising an interior casing structure that has a downwardly directed main discharge outlet at the lower side and arpilot opening atthe upper end portion, -a kdome-shaped air chamber structure enclosing the upper portion of said interior/casing structure, a drainage chamber structure enclosing the lower; rtion of said interior casing structure and aving an outlet adjacent said main discharge outlet, and said casing having a plurality of con- ,nectingiL passages distributed around said, interior casing structure that connect said air chamber and 'drainage chamber structures.

11. A ush valve as described in claim 2, the part of said exterior casing structure that is above said interior casing structure hailfjng one or more perforations in the side wa 12. A iiush valve comprising an interior casing structure housed within an exterior casing structure, said interior casing structure being provided with valve operating devices and having an inlet and an outlet, said interior casing structure having an opening' in the side wall that operates as a relief passage for admitting water to the-` exterior casing structure under operating conditions, the exterior casing structure having a discharge passage for such water, and the outlet for the interior casing structure being projected into said discharge passage, whereby the main ilow of water through the outlet will accelerate the drainage of the exterior casing by reason of the aspirator effect of such ow.

13. A flush valve as described in claim 12, the part of the exterior casing structure remote from said discharge passage having a perforation i-n the side wall. A

14. A iius'h valve as described in claim l2, an umbrella guard device being provided in the exterior casing structure, enclosing said opening, lfor directing water away from the exterior wall. i 4

15. A flush valve having a casing that is qprovided with an inlet and an outlet, a diaphragm extended across the interior of said casing, above said inlet and outlet, a main valve supported from the-under side of said'diaphragm, mechanism for operating said main valve and means for guiding 'said main valve, and said mechanism and said means being both positioned on the upper side of said diaphragm, the means for guiding the valve comprising 'a stem that is rigidly secured to said main valve.

16. In a flush valve, a casing having an interior enclosed structure that is divided lby a diaphragm into a lower main valve chamber and an upper water chamber, a main 17. In a flush valve as described in claim 16, said stem having a chamber for housing the lower and major portion of said spring.

18. In a flush valve, a discharge outlet that is bordered by a valve seat, a diaphragm sub-dividing the interior of said casing into an upper and a lower supported from said diaphragm, positioned on the under side of said diaphragm, and cooperating with said seat, a diminutive passage serving to inter-connect said upper and lower chambers, said main valve being pro'- vided with a laterally projecting extension that overhangs said seat, and said passage being provided in said overhanging eXtension.

19. ln a flush valve as described in claim 18, a tube serving as the means for providing said diminutive passage, said tube being housed in registering openings in said valve structure and diaphragm.

20. ln a flush valve, a i casing, a diaphragm subdividing said casing into an upper and a lower chamber, a dlsc-like main valve structure mounted on `one face of said diaphragm, a stem structure mounted on the opposite face of said diaphragm and connected by means projecting through said diaphragm to said valve structure, an anchamber, a main valve.

'wardly projecting stem,

nular flange on said stem structure opposed to the outer portion of said valve structure, and a diminutive connecting passage between said chambers being provided by means of registering openings in said flange, diaphragm, and valve structure.

21. ln a flush valve as described in claim 20, a lining for said registering openings being provided in theform of a tube that is housed therein.

'22. lin a flush valve, a diaphragm of ilexible material supported to permitl of limited movement of the middle portion thereof, metal parts mounted on said middle portion, a diminutive passage connecting the opposite sides of said diap in opposed portions of said metal parts and diaphragm, and said passage being providedv with a lining in the form of a piece of metal tubing. v

23. ln a flush valve, an interior casing part having a pilot opening, a pilot valve housed within said part and having an upand a tubular eX- projected above tension of said casing part for said said opening that serves as a guide stem.

EDWARD PATRIGK BURNS,

hragm and positioned 

